Kayla Tange

I was born in Seoul, South Korea and adopted at
the age of six months by a Japanese American Family. I grew up in Lemoore,
California until I moved to Los Angeles in 2000.

What were your motivations behind moving to
Los Angeles?

I always dreamed of moving to Los Angeles since I
was a child. I had an aunt who lived here and I would spend summers visiting
when I was a teenager. The town I grew up in was small and at that time, I felt
like creatively I needed to be in a bigger city.

Photo by @greenbagphotography

As a young artist what were some of your
inspirations?

Richard Kern films, Portishead, Oscar Wilde, Anne
Sexton poetry, Deee-Lite, Real Sex and Sex Bytes, Sisters of Mercy, film
photography, Barbara Kruger, abandoned warehouses, feeling safe in my sexuality
in front of our cameras, dressing my friends up and taking photos of them to
music...so much music and so much dancing freely to our favorite songs,
discovering what a fetish was, heartbreak, death and longing.

Do you remember the first time you performed
on stage? What was it like?

The first time I performed on stage as an exotic
dancer was when I was 22. I was terrified, but also enthusiastic about
navigating through this other world. I remember I was not used to men staring
at me so lustfully.

Photo by Jason Kamimura

What is it about sexuality that you find so
interesting in exploring in your works?

What I find so interesting about sexuality is that
it’s human behavior in such an undeniably honest and raw state. I am fascinated
by these interactions that begin as a monetary exchange, but then evolve or
devolve into anything from complete disrespect to beautiful lifelong
friendships.

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you while working
on a performance?

I was wearing a vinyl coat and slipped onto the
floor after sitting on someone’s lap while holding a piece of chicken...because
vinyl on jeans is like a skating rink I found out!

Photo by Luka Fisher

Do you prefer to perform in public spaces or in private areas?

I like both. I like performing on large stages,
although there’s something really invigorating and intimate about small venues.
I like being able to see the expression on the faces of everyone in the room.

What has been your favorite piece that you’ve
worked on so far?

So far my favorite piece I have worked on is the
one I am currently working on. Boundaries, where
the audience’s true anonymous stories are collected as they are told. The life
of each audience member becomes a vital element in an immersive narrative –
combining movement, constraint, live music and multi-media elements – where art
and life no longer imitate each other, but instead are unified.

Besides performances what other ways do you
see yourself pushing the boundaries of sexuality and the taboo?

My work is sexual in nature, but rarely about sex
itself. The motivation for what I do is a strong desire for emotional
connection and understanding of human behavior. Sexuality and the taboo exist
so heavily in the mind, so playing with perspective and expectation is always a
fun challenge.

What other cities have you performed at?

Miami, Florida during Art Basel. New York, New
York for the Asian Burlesque Extravaganza, Slipper Room, and Hotel Chantelle.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada for Montreal Burlesque Festival.

Photo by Jason Kamimura

If given the opportunity what would be your
one wish for the world?

Oh, wow. How can I possibly choose one? I have so
many wishes for the world right now.

Who would you like to thank for inspiring you to never give up and
continue on developing your work?

My mother. She passed away when I was a teenager,
but while she was alive she persevered through some extremely challenging times
with her health. During these times, I never once saw her lose her spirit. I
think about this everyday and especially when I want to give up.